February 15, 2008
A visit to the west coast is next for the Texas A&M track and field team as they travel to Seattle, Washington, for the Husky Classic hosted by the University of Washington on Saturday, Feb. 16.
The Aggies, currently No. 3 in the USTFCCCA men?â„¢s rankings and No. 4 in the women?â„¢s rankings, will compete on the oversized, 307-meter Mondo track at the Washington Dempsey Indoor facility amid a field that features teams from the Big 10, Big 12, Pac-10, SEC, Conference-USA and WAC.
Some of the top schools include Alabama, Arizona (No. 13 women), Arizona State (No. 2 men, No. 6 women), BYU (No. 5 men), Cal Poly-SLO, Colorado, California, Cal State Northridge, Idaho, Idaho State, Minnesota (No. 8 women), Northern Arizona, Oregon (No. 12 men, No. 11 women), Stanford (No. 5 women), Rice, San Diego State, Utah State, Washington State, Wisconsin.
Four facility records on the women?â„¢s side would be in jeopardy from the visiting Aggies as marks in the 60 (7.31), 200 (23.46), 400 (53.57) and 4 x 400 (3:35.06) are inferior to current season best marks by Simone Facey (7.28), Porscha Lucas (23.16), Jessica Beard (52.87) and the A&M 4 x 400 relay (3:34.61). However, Lucas is not running in the 200 nor is Beard contesting the 400 this weekend. The 60 and 4 x 400 marks could be challenged by the Aggies.
Another squad of Aggies will head to Houston for an All-Comer?â„¢s meet on Saturday. The group mainly includes athletes in throwing events with a light mixture of distance runners, jumpers and sprinters. Action begins at 8 a.m. inside the Yoeman Fieldhouse with field events while running events start at 11 a.m.
The Husky Classic, which starts at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday and concludes around 6 p.m., will be the last indoor meet for the Aggies prior to the Big 12 Championships, which take place Feb. 28-March 1 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Texas A&M women will head into the conference meet as the defending champions while the men?â„¢s squad looks to improve upon a ninth-place finish in 2007.
Texas A&M currently has 10 event leaders in the Big 12, with Ashika Charan leading two events ?- the long and triple jump. The Aggies lead both 4 x 400 relays in the Big 12 and the women?â„¢s mark is currently the collegiate leader while the men?â„¢s time ranks No. 2 in the nation.
Others who are currently second in the nation with their season best mark are Chris Dykes in the 200 (20.97), Lucas in the 200 (23.16) and Beard in the 400 (52.87).